Ranch, home supply store in the works

Murdoch's may open in former Country General building

The owner of 13 Big R Ranch and Home Supply stores plans to open one in the former Country General building in Craig.

John Murdoch, who calls his Big R stores Murdoch's, expects to open the doors of a Craig outlet in the next three months.

Murdoch doesn't yet have a lease on the building, which is at the west end of Craig on U.S. Highway 40. Stacey Mathers, a Realtor with American Northwest Realty who is listing the building, said the deal is not done.

"It looks like we might have something going in there, but nothing's signed," Mathers said. "I don't want to get anyone's hopes up until there's something concrete."

Murdoch is ready for people to get excited, though he too cautions that the contract is not signed. He said the lease agreement is for 15 years.

Workers are already in the 40,000-square-foot building upgrading the plumbing.